This courtyard gate really serves as front entrance to Shirley and
Rod McGrath's house in Fresno, California.

To build it, the McGrath's son Matt, an architecture student,
lag-screwed 2-by-8 doorjambs and an 8-by-12 lintel to the concrete-block
wall. He made the gate's frame from 1-inch-square tubular steel
and diagonal braces, then screwed 3/4-inch exterior-grade plywood to
each side.

Before attaching the plywood, he painted the outside surfaces
black. Redwood strips of several dimensions, with scrap blocks between
them, were screwed to the plywood from behind. Then the panels were
stained. Screwed-on 1-by-4s cap the gate's vertical edges, and
three 4-1/2-inch heavy-duty hinges mount it to the jamb.

COPYRIGHT 1985 Sunset Publishing Corp.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.